From starting out as an accidental project manager to leading with compassion. Kate Kurzawska of timecamp helps me take a stroll down memory lane as we discuss how I became a project manager. In this candid interview, Kate encouraged me to discuss one of my biggest disappointments in the workplace, my inspirations and how to set personal and professional priorities.

I hope you enjoy listening to this podcast discussion as much as I enjoyed recording it.

Several years ago, my youngest cousin married. He was at least fifteen years younger than the rest of us. He was also about fifty years younger than his oldest aunt. Over the weekend of the wedding, I was escorting this aunt. Who, by the way, would never be described by anyone as elderly. She had lots of pep in her step!

The night before the wedding there was a wine tasting party. EVERYONE was invited. The bride and groom made sure that EVERYONE knew that they were invited. But our aunt really hesitated. She declared that this was a party for young people. She made it clear, that I did not qualify.

I and other members of the family, who were just as ‘not young’, were looking forward to the party. With my aunt in tow, off we went. It was probably a fun party. We will never know. As soon as the ‘young folk’ began to arrive, my aunt became very uncomfortable and agitated. We left.

And that is when I learned that my aunt had a fear of young people.

My late mother-in-law was just the opposite. In her nineties, she talked about how she hated to be around old people. The old people she was referring to were all ten to fifteen years her junior.

How sad to miss out on a friendship because of age. To pass up the opportunity to share and to learn from one another. Yes, different generations have different experiences. We might use different words, or use the same words different ways. We might listen to different music. That’s no reason not to spend time together.

Let’s consider the phrase, the wisdom of the ages and perhaps allow it to mean, the wisdom that comes from all ages.

Have you ever had that moment, when out of nowhere you suddenly knew why your sponsor was so upset during your budget presentation?

That could be YOU being mindful.

When an idea pops into your head, and it feels like it came from nowhere, that moment BEFORE you start putting all kinds of mental parameters around it – that is mindfulness.

Mindfulness is present time awareness. Mindfulness is nonjudgmental observation.

Mindfulness is also becoming an overused buzzword. You can find articles on mindfulness in top business publications, the Harvard Business Review, Forbes, INC. and others.
Is it just the latest fad or is there something to it?

I am thrilled to appear on Episode #400 of The PM Podcast to discuss Mindfulness for Project Managers. Listen in while Cornelius Fichtner and I discuss how mindfulness and project management go together.

Hatred is, indeed, never appeased by hatred in this world. It is appeased only by compassion. This is the eternal truth (Dhamma).
From the Dhammapada, Verse 5

Let’s meet hatred with love and compassion.

Some days meeting hatred with love means saying, “I disagree with your opinion, but I support your right to your opinion”.
Other days meeting hatred with love means keeping silent because your compassion cannot find a path from your heart to your mouth.

Some days meeting hatred with love means listening to someone tell you why they hate foreigners or members of a particular race or religious group.
Other days meeting hatred with love means telling someone why you refuse to hate foreigners or members of a particular race or religious group.

Some days meeting hatred with love means voting with your wallet and refusing to support organizations who participate in discrimination.
Other days meeting hatred with love means meditating on your own biases, because everyone has some degree of bias.

Some days meeting hatred with love means standing up to a friend or family member, even when it is difficult to do so.
Other days meeting hatred with love means reaching out to those who are victims of hateful speech or hate crimes.

On no day does meeting hatred with love mean responding with violence or cruelty.

Not long ago, Lori Lee from Love Your Story; helped us to understand the power of using stories to help inspire our team members. It can be so challenging to create the energy, enthusiasm and commitment to move forward with a project. After all, YOUR project is not the only project people are working on

And why should YOUR project be the reason that they miss another family dinner or evening out with friends?

While Lori reminds us that storytelling is an ancient craft, it is just as powerful today as it was so long ago. I will always remember one of my favorite people. A well-seasoned Information Technology guy who had done it all and seen it all. He was unimpressed by MOST of the people and projects around him. Yet one day, he came to me excited about a new project. This was very unusual. He proceeded to tell me all about the kick-off meeting. Now, that was funny, he HATED ALL MEETINGS.

But at this meeting, the project sponsor attended and told the team the story of how the idea for this project came about. He told the story of what would be different when this project would be completed. He showed pictures of the new product that customers would fall in love with. And with that, my well-seasoned IT guy fell in love with the project.

Today, with special thanks to Lori, I would like to share with you my guest appearance on her Love Your Story podcast. Where she graciously allowed me to share my story of learning how to tell stories. At first, I was definitely NOT a natural.

Being a project manager is no easy endeavor. You have to master BOTH the hard skills and the soft skills. You have to know how to create and manage project quality, project scope, schedule and budget AND create a high performing team. That is NOT easy. AND keep your certification current (or pursue your certification).

If only you had a trusted advisor and access to quick and easy tips and techniques and affordable and flexible training, created just for project managers. The good news is that you do!